The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1887-07-14
AsQUARE MAN.
ma True Story Of q Diamond In
the Rough.

= 4 2 =
ma True story Of q Diamond In
the Rough.
NM friend, Thomas 7. R.. is a book
tseper in large manufacturing
establishment in upper New York.
Thomas is one of the ''nicest" little
men that ever seemed to have 'just
arouedfrom b aband-box." His char
,eter is as white as his shirt front, and
n manifold virtues shining as his
polshed No. 6 shoes.
Thomas is as honest, kindly a soul as
,ysrdrew bpeathsor pen. land his hatred
d every species of vulgarity was doubt
less born IN him at the same time with
bis "niceness.
Icalled on Thomas few weeks ago,
and, greatly to my surprise, saw
moving about, with every appearance
of being perfectly at home and in en-
joyment Of full confidence, and per-
forming many duties in a crab-like,
swkwards pll-in-a-china-shop sort of a
way my old. young friend. ''Stumpy.
Tie youth who used to "shine" my
boots every morning when / lived in
that locality. He was well named by
whoever bestowed upon him that
title; be had stumpy legs, a stumpy
body, stumpy arms, stumpy nose,
"a tthe top ! Of his head looked
Is though, while still warm, it
had been carefully attended by vio-
lent pressure from stove-plate or some
Ike level-surface implement. Thomas
TR shook my hand in mild rapture,
while Stumpy grinned welcome all
over the back of his head, and became.
through. excitement, more .crab-like
than ever IN his movements.
Igazed in silent astonishment at this
strange but evidently satisfactory asso-
eation, and waited for time to reveal
the secret.
Time did is-dinner-time. when
accompanied my friend to his bachelor
quarters. ~
"What in the name of all that is
mixed, asked, fare you doing with
that boy in your Officer"
my dear sir," replied Thomas T. R.
-he always commences his little
speeches as formally as he does his let
ters-'that is one of the most remark
able boys Of the century. A rough
diamond. sir, assure you; still rough,
eut very, very remarkably valuable
diamond, on my honor
and this is the story gathered from
nerather long-spun and slightly stilted
recital Of my friend:
Despite his detestation of everything
vulgar Thomas T. R was forced. BY
ad experience. to acknowledge that
nom no bootblack in his vicinity could
. obtain ''shine" of the same reful.
selce and perpetuity as from Stumpy,
aad though the appearance of the lad
- revolving to his nicely, and the
aasaage Of the street arab continually
,s0cksd al his ideas Of propriety, still
.a0nas !. r outraged his eyes and his
Ms ior the sake Of the .'patent-leddei
n,ae' which seemed to come at the
aii Of the nimble brushes of vigorous
aunpy, as from those of none other o,
e craft and certain degree of init.
macy was established between tha tw, m
very opposite characters. wv
aanpy was BY no means a difiden,
M ,auta, and soon after feeling satisfied
as' ns contract was permanent one
sgsrded the blacking Of Thomas T.
!. = e0cts, he began to impress upor
= und Of the latter his (Stumpy's)
nsaaons sss for '.gittin' ahead"
:. IN squar, boss, am," he would
-. E sn yo' kin count on me effry
: as Ny ole man she brung me up te
: guar, an | amt goin' back on 'er
49, IS. De ole man, he amt no good
i s''s1 Mst He's doin' time up'n d.
~ - !. J. aa.s war he is, an de third e1
~ Z. Y ume he's been der. He ain,
4, 09a. g But my ole mann, she's al
d,s s1e y an I'm squar',-I am, an
n 49,. = .ere,t it An say, boss, wher